System and method for altering the optical properties of a material

Abstract

A system for changing the configuration of a transparent, resilient material, for the purpose of altering its optical properties, requires obtaining a topology for the material. The obtained data is then used to create a computer program for operating a laser unit. In accordance with the program, the laser unit creates incisions within a defined operational volume, inside the material, to weaken the material (i.e. change its internal stress distributions). Specifically, the incisions are made on predetermined surfaces (e.g. cylindrical surfaces) in the operational volume by Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB). As a consequence of the incisions, the material undergoes the desired configurational change in response to external forces applied on the material.

1 . A system for causing a configurational change in a topology of a clear, transparent, resilient material, to alter the optical properties of the material, the system comprising:
 a diagnostic unit for determining a topology for the material, when a surface of the material is in a first configuration and is being influenced by external forces;   a computer for defining an operational volume inside the material, and for evaluating the topology to create a program for making incisions within the operational volume; and   a laser unit for performing the program to weaken material in the operational volume for reconfiguring the topology to a second configuration in response to the external forces.   
     
     
         2 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the topology includes dimensions of the material, a topography for the material, and dimensions and locations of the incisions. 
     
     
         3 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the topology of the surface is determined by an OCT technique. 
     
     
         4 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the topology of the material is determined by a use of empirical data. 
     
     
         5 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the incisions are made by a Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of the material. 
     
     
         6 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein an axis is defined substantially perpendicular to the surface of the material, and the incisions are made on a cylindrical surface, wherein the cylindrical surface is defined in the operational volume and is centered on the axis. 
     
     
         7 . A system as recited in  claim 6  wherein there are a plurality of concentric cylindrical surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein an axis is defined substantially perpendicular to the surface of the material, and the incisions are made on at least one layer, wherein the layer is located in the operational volume and is established substantially perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         9 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein an axis is defined substantially perpendicular to the surface of the material, and the incisions are made in the operational volume on planes extending radially from the axis. 
     
     
         10 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the material has an opposed surface, wherein the opposed surface is substantially parallel to the surface, and further wherein the opposed surface is in contact with a pressurized fluid to establish the external forces. 
     
     
         11 . A system for reconfiguring a transparent, resilient material which comprises:
 a diagnostic unit for determining a first configuration within an operational volume of the material, wherein the operational volume is defined inside the material;   a means for identifying a configurational change for the material, to achieve a desired alteration of optical properties for the material when the material is influenced by a plurality of predetermined externally applied forces;   a computer for creating a program for making incisions within the operational volume to accomplish the desired configurational change for the material; and   a laser unit for changing configurations of the material within the operational volume, in accordance with the program, to cause the desired configurational change.   
     
     
         12 . A system as recited in  claim 11  wherein the program includes calculations for positioning the incisions and their geometry inside the operational volume in accordance with the topology of the material. 
     
     
         13 . A system as recited in  claim 12  wherein an axis is defined substantially perpendicular to the surface of the material, and the incisions are made on a cylindrical surface, wherein the cylindrical surface is defined in the operational volume and is centered on the axis. 
     
     
         14 . A system as recited in  claim 12  wherein an axis is defined substantially perpendicular to the surface of the material, and the incisions are made on at least one layer and are caused by a Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of the material, wherein the layer is located in the operational volume and is established substantially perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         15 . A system as recited in  claim 12  wherein an axis is defined substantially perpendicular to the surface of the material, and the incisions are made in the operational volume on planes extending radially from the axis. 
     
     
         16 . A method for using a laser unit to cause a configurational change in a surface of a clear transparent resilient material, to alter the optical properties of the material, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a system wherein the system includes a diagnostic unit for determining a topology for the material when the surface is in a first configuration, and while the material is being influenced by external forces, and has a computer for identifying an operational volume inside the material and for evaluating the topology to create a program for making incisions within the operational volume; and   performing the program with the laser unit to weaken material in the operational volume for reconfiguring the surface to a second configuration in response to the external forces.   
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the topology includes dimensions of the material, and dimensions and locations of the incisions. 
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the topology of the surface is determined by an analysis selected from a group comprising OCT analyses, slit scan analyses and Placido analyses. 
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the topology of the material is determined by using empirical data. 
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the incisions are made by a Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of the material.